The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-01-20

distinguished friend here turning GrhtelHIN ~
Gen R1-sl, In whose hands know your govern
mcut viii be safe And wnrn he closes his career
am confident IL will be- with luslr", ana IN lhr
promotion OF the best interests and moral pros
perty Of this leop'e aud Of this great slate. ZAP
plause.
GoyRRSOE ROSS
Was next introduced. and delivered the
following address with great impressive
ness, cliciting frequent applause IN the
course of its earnest delivery:
Fellow Citizens, Senators and Representatives in
the Legislature Of Texas:
from the citizen Of the state, those VINO are 10 az
Minister the affairs Of their government. In max
ng this choice every political question tlH' '""S.l,7
the honor, progress and well being OF the country
T. fully considered: pulicicP laws and Institutions
are freely discussed. And M You have Just come
from the people IL IL fair to presume that you are
fully prpuarpd ~ give Pl precision . what may ne
1. rmed the logic Of the popular mind Probably
no Legislature was ever confronted by Grhyrr re-
zponfb tiles. Those who study the puhllc hiihlI7
If mr. state, ard consider the want 81 h"m"3rhlE
In ita population, IN indu-tTia puIsnlr, bN7ih'7
entplprisps. and POClrl Fympathies, are aware ol
the fnct that It presents questions vatiY lnoIt
complicated and embarrassing than any otnrf s,htt'
and the knowledge required to detl WIN 'heHl
,,isaIy and work ont safr i-supa. il immense.
/ have a profound hope, not ciou1eA with the
aIrbfre doubt that these great and vital measures
vill be undertaken with COmmendable temper,
moderation and fairness; and feel confident that
Won will meet bravey, unselishlY and Loyalty, the
great work confronting you. Recognizing a com
mon ohligaonto do full justice TO all, IN" hnmbiest
"a well ~ the highest-aDd make stronger IN"
bonds which should unite us, as a people, IN
common, grand destiny commemorate WIN
state hOundlr 20 in ita resources, Infinite IN lts pos
gibiliiirs and extending the largest freedom ol
purzuits in matters of religious concernment, social
habits and business engagements, win no respect
OF persons, In regard 10 rank or place OF brIm IN
unieon with that political creed which peculiarly
.tG.tt Ia Of
The legislator has peculiar province COMMITTED
70 hi, care and Is expected to meet the constant
variations in the conditions of society," its in, in,
t-resa and ita securities 1t IL the
experience and the wants OF society,
that teach what laws are necessary;
and they should he enacted and framed according
10 these demands and eXigencles But the proDa-
hilitos Of frequent changes Of policy, upon eco
monte questions in our state IL, doubtless, great
disadvantage to its general prosperity what 1t
needs and pleads for IL stability, permanencyI
something IpOp which the people may safely rely
m abiding II IL not to be expected that great en-
terptiapg will take that scope or feel that ylgOr,
confronted with the liability Of radical change each
two YEARS. that II would. could the assurance exist
that given policy would abide so that men might
he certain To reap the reward of their sowing
Experience demonstrates that frequent changes IN
none a-entals are more hurtful, In unsettlng the
people, than the small defects WhiIh these changes
| have generally proposed to remedy: to say moth
Ing Of the increased cost of legislation and the neg
lpCt OF more important ma'trr9. Besides, II IL
possible 10 40 CbmDllthIf ltH5li'lDu IL W IfH''l
iia effects nugatory, and Ia make the simplest pro
vision a loop hole, through which improper pfhc-
tees are possible and il may not b" deemed anlss
To say thar the practice has become quite TOO gen.
erll, by which the most important business OF
each session, affecting laws and well established
policies is crowded into it7 last honrs, thus con
strtiniug members, without time for mature dc
liberation, to either suffer measures to become
laws or incur the risk Of suhjoCtng the statn and
individuals, 10 treat loss ard Inconvenience
In the uhil lsnph, of our government, w nave :
system Of distributed powers between the dtrreht
de nTtmcnt7 thereof, so Incorporated INTO me gen
eral system and endowed with such functions, As
| to pua IT, them to act "a checks upon each other
And there has been ASSIGNED 10 each with greht
precision and certainty, it7 appropriat' lunctnhs,
wisely guarding the whole hy expressly i"r'iddIn"
the eNrrd e. by any enc NJ them, of the lowers as
! signed 10 either Of The others.
It Is further seen that the sam" admirable dstil,
| button of powers exists between the general ana
| state governments, and while thu nature ana
scope OF the stem il complex in it, machinery, II
| IL, ut the same time, simple in its operation Ac'
| CurOing to this theory, very large portion OF inc
| tunCiOns of government H. of Il local character
The federal government tal<e7 cogniIante OF those
matters Of national interest, and leaves the great
mass of governmental powers tn the tltes WINCH
in turn, largely distribute them out to the counties,
ard one important branch Of the government the
judiciary requires the aid Of the individual CltIeh
| IN tn, Jury box All, however, proceed upon the
| theory of self government and assume thaJ the
people OF every locality are competent ana we'll
disposed tOit.
This being true, It Is important that the state
shall be lacking in no essential quality to AFFORD
| protection and security to person ana properly, IN
| every emergency, and present no prr'eNt Tor tue
eNten lion of the area of federal power. which, by
| express grant coupled with an imperative lnJuhc'
tiun for its exercise, ia given To those lNOklhg IT.,
In the provision that declares, mo state sinai! deny
| 10 any person within is jurisdiction the equal pro
lection OF its laws" If, therefore, we would pre-
serve the dignity Of our state, and make 1t soy,
eTeign with respect to it, Internal government IL
| lrt11 iaIlV
| to all those who Sc k to disturb society, or EN-
barss or ob-truC its agencies for the preservation
OF law and order Besides, 1t is a fundamental
principle of law, that, while the citizen owns al
lpgapCe tO the government he has the right To
demand at any cost projection for life, person and
property, and the full enjoyment OF free speech, a
| free ballot and safe home The obligations are
mutual, and where you ignore or weaken this
RIGHT you destroy or diminish the duty OF allie
glance. A.,
1t ia not too much to say, then, that where there
are extraordinary combinations To NOlate tAe laws
there should he extraordinary legislation Tor Us
suppression: and the wisdom and statesmanship OF
Texas, doubt not, will be found equal to the duty
| of prescribing remedes for every crime when the
ingenuity of evil disposed men can cohtrl!t
| or invent, 1T our present laws are defective II
that respect, they should he promptly amended; II
new mes are demanded by public eXlgenclee, thel
should be enacted and the officials charged with
| their execution clothed with ample power anC
authority to enforce obedience, otherwise they
will be iusOry In character and useless In acuon
The people expect their representatives 10 guard
Well the doors of their treasury; and, under eN
listing financial conditions, we are Compellau u
| scruIniZp our expenditures with the utmost Nlgl
| lance, and endeayor, by all fair and honorable
| modes, To eduCe the expenditures to the lowest
practicable amount CONSTANT with proper re
gard tn the bubble interest and an effective ann n
! istrptiOn of the government. hut they 90 not dc
mand an unreasonable stringenCy which would in
cur the peril of disastrous recoil, superindnclnl
the very state of things sought to be summed by
q crilce Of efficiency toa false idea of economy.
We 10 st in vain of our great natural resources
but we shall fail to impress the world by playing
the giant abroad ana the pigmy at home.
Our people are educated in law-ahldng habits
ard their instincts ard their interests are in taNo
II peace, order and justice They present
higher evidence of thrift, economy, labor, wealtl
aud prosperitv-the natural results of obedience t'
law and ugdCr-than any other given section I'll IN
Union. And while insisting upon the exercise o
a wise and just economy, they expect their repre-
sentatiyes To infusc the necessary strength ar'
vigor into every department of government; 10
they stand pledged to maintain the laws, t"ste
pro. rcss universal education, and the elevation o
the masses. protect labor, encourage car ilal AM
build up home Industries Ia the end that on
ueupie may he able in fuller measure tOtely upo
tEer own resources and thus develop the great
rst divers hCatiun Of commercial and Industrial en-
tetprses to add Ia the wealth and production q
the state, and the continued lcuNlty OF mos
great and Vital M, raj and economic forces Mhlc
uudrrltr rue graz drur. and which tend Ia culuNat
and enlarge an uudying attachment To ur state, II
history and its institutions, aud iuspiie ptuluun
, ! state pride, "a we'll rs SUI
lime yeuerhuon for the patriotic eNampi
oi thos" who laid, broad and deep, the foundation
of our state government
, In every puI,tv, whether civil or ecclesiastical
the Judicial system Ia a matter Of the first impur
tanCp, ard needs tu hc adjusted With the creates
care and accuracy Ia suhscrNe the ends OF govern
. mput ia the repression uf wrong and the Grt,us
. ltFf A. Hr 4lH